Inquest told of 'aggressive' driving before triple death crash

THREE cars involved in a triple death crash were being driven in a “competitive” and “aggressive” manner in the moments before the accident that killed three teenagers—an inquest has heard.

Jonathan Scott (17), Robert Tepper (17) and Lauren Birkett (16) died after the Corsa they were travelling in spun out of control into an oncoming car on Adwick Road, Mexborough, on December 27, 2010.

At an inquest yesterday, the Doncaster Coroner, Ms Nicola Mundy, recorded a verdict of accidental death on Jonathan Scott, the driver of the Corsa, who died from multiple injuries.

She returned a narrative verdicts on passengers Lauren Birkett and Robert Tepper and confirmed that Lauren died from head injuries and Robert died from a ruptured lung.

She said: “Lauren and Robert were passengers in a vehicle which had been driven in a manner exposing them to risk of serious injury or death.

“A collision occurred resulting in fatal injuries from which they died.”

Jonathan, Robert, Lauren and survivor Chloe Newby had been out driving with friends on the evening of the accident.

The Corsa was following a Vauxhall Astra, driven by the teenagers’ friend Daniel Cotton, along Adwick Road at around 8pm when the accident happened.

The Astra had successfully overtaken a Fiat Punto when the Corsa followed and also completed an overtaking manoevre but skidded across the road when Jonathan tried to brake for an upcoming bend.

Ms Mundy said: “It is my view that the Corsa overtook at a place unsafe to do so.”

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